Effects of interaction between variants of selected candidate genes and lifestyle on health and performance-related physical fitness

Vassilopoulos, Christos (2005) Effects of interaction between variants of selected candidate genes and lifestyle on health and performance-related physical fitness. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The primary objective of these experiments was to investigate the impact of the interaction between variants of selected candidate genes, gender and lifestyle on health and physical fitness-related phenotypes in a large, representative population of adolescent children from Greece using both genotype and haplotype approaches. 1198 subjects, all at school in Greece, filled out questionnaires giving details of age and amount of organised physical activity regularly undertaken. Subjects provided a buccal swab that was used to extract DNA while measurements were taken to describe a series of physiological, physical and skill-related phenotypes. The aim of the first experimental investigation (Chapter 3) was to assess the general health and physical fitness of the present population of adolescent children from Greece. This was achieved by comparing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the present cohort with findings from the published literature. The aim of the second experimental investigation (Chapter 4) was to assess the potential influence of individual genotypes and haplotypes of the ACE gene, when controlled for lifestyle and gender differences, on obesity-related phenotypes in the cohort of Greek adolescents. Significant, albeit modest, associations were observed between several of the ACE polymorphisms and the obesity-related phenotypes in total and inactive females. The third experimental investigation (Chapter 5) aimed to assess potential associations between variants of the ACE gene and physical, physiological and skill parameters in Greek adolescents. The aim of the fourth experimental investigation (Chapter 6) was to assess the influence of polymorphic variants in the ADRB genes on obesity-related phenotypes in the Greek adolescents. The fifth and final experimental investigation (Chapter 7) aimed to assess the impact of variants in the ADRB genes on physical, physiological and skill-related parameters in the Greek adolescents. The results of the genetic analyses suggested that polymorphisms in the ACE, ADRB1 and ADRB2 genes influenced obesity and performance-related phenotypes in a gender-specific manner. They also indicated that these effects could be altered by participation in organised physical activity. As such, these findings suggested that genes simply predispose individuals to particular traits in a manner that can be overridden by lifestyle choices. Haplotype-based methods offer greater analytic ability relative to individual SNPs but their analytical power is dependant on sample size and the strength of the genetic effect under investigation. Thorough discussion of experimental results based on their strength, consistency and biological plausibility in addition to adjustments for multiple testing, where these are practical, may be the best approach to avoid reporting of biased results. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Dr. Y.P. Pitsiladis.
• Keywords: Genetics.
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Supervisor, not known
• Date of Award: 2005
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2005-71448
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 10 May 2019 14:39
• Last Modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:38
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/71448

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